Advertising sign



Nov. 2o, 1923. 1,474,682

H. W. MTCHELL ET AL l ADVERTISING S IGN Filed July 192s 2 sheets-shea 1 film@ H. W. MITCHELL ET AL.

ADVERTISING SIGN Filed July C1,V 1925 2 SheebS-Sheet 2 Patented Nov; 20, 1923.

UNITED STATES 1,474,682 PATENT oFFicE..

HARRY W. MITCHELL AND PETER LA GRASSA, OF NEW YORK,y N. AY., ASSIGNORS TO NIGHT AERO ADVERTISING CORPORATION, F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION.

ADVERTISING SIGN.

Application filed July 3, 1 923.

To a'ZZ whom it may concern such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it. appertains to make and use the same. Our invention relates to improvements in advertising signs and the present disclosure is directed more particularly toan illuminated sign' for the purpose of displaying advertising matter at night, through the instrumentality of an aircraft which carries the sign.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple and light, yet a very conspicuous sign which is'carried by an aircraft in downwardly spaced relation therewith, the sign being disposed horizontally in spaced relation with the machine, to avoid as much resistance as possible and to prevent the sign from interfering in any manner with proper lfunctioning of the machine. This'is particularly advantageous when the sign is carried by a supporting plane of the craft, which is in most instances preferred.

Another object of the invention is -to provide novel supporting means for a plurality of letters which may be attached to the supporting means at any of a number of points along its length, thus permitting the letters to be properly arranged for displaying any desired advertisements.

- A still further object is to provide a sign structure which may be supported from the two main spars of a supporting plane of the machine, andmay be readily detached when desired.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the. accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a sectional View through a. supporting plane of an aircraft and our invention attached to the mainl spars of the plane.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary bottom plan view.

Figure `3 is a horizontal sectional view on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Serial No. 649,346.

Figure 4 is a detail vertical sectional view on line .4-4of Fig. 2. i f Figure 5 is a vertical sectional "view as indicated by line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

F igure 6 is a sectional,disassembled perspective view showing more 'particularly the manner of connecting`tlie letters detachably with the supports therefor. A

The drawings above briefly described, illustrate the preferred "formof our invention, for purposes of illustration, andr in these drawings we have illustrated a conventional type of supporting plane 1' foran airplane, seaplane or other aircraft.. The

numerals 2 "(see, Fig. 1) des"gnate"the main g spars/of the plane l and i e prefer tos'upport thefsign which we have devised, lfrom these spars. To this end, we secure vertical hangers 3 detachably to the spars 2, -by screws or other desired, means 4 and the lower ends of said hangers carry a pair of parallel letter-supporting bars 5 which are preferably of angular form -i transverse section, in order that they may very light X and at the same time sufiiciently strong. We'` have illustrated rivets 6 securi g the hangers 3 to the vertical anges of the bars @5, but

bolts. or ,other attaching -means could 'of course be used if desired.

'The horizontal flanges of the' bars 5 are provided with longitudinal slots 7 `,and it will be seen that each slot may extend substantially throughout the'length of its re- Spective bar, or that a plurality of shorter slots could be used in place of one long slot. These slots are intended to receivel bolts 8 lby means of which any of anumber of thin sheet` metal letters 9, may be attached to the bars 5. These letters may be of any preferred construction, but in order that they may be conspicuously seen at night, we prefer that they shall be provided with a plurality of electric bulbs `10 receiving their current from a storage battery carried by the aircraft, the battery being supplied with current by means of an appropriate motordriven generator.

In the construction shown, each letter 9 is of channel form withl its side flanges extending downwardly at opposite sides of `the electric lights 10. The upper side of each' letter is provided at suitable locations los' portion of each letter, the latter is prefervably provided 'on its upper side with plates letters, but not illuminating the carrying plane to detract from the advertisement.

Particular attention is directed to positioning the sign in a lhorizontal plane in downwardly spaced relation with a supporting plane of an aircraft or in a similar relation with another part of the crat, as this positioning will offer practically no resistance and will not interfere with proper engagement of the supporting plane or other part, with the air. l

As excellent results may be obtained from the details disclosed, they may be followed if desired, but Within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous'minor changes may be made. i

`We claim: y

l. The combination with a motor-driven lane-supported air craft; ot horizontal oars under a supporting plane ot" the craft` Lampes and extending longitudinally of said plane, rigid hangers for said bars detachably secured to said plane and suspending said bars in a common substantially horizontal plane, a horizontal row-of horizontal letters and substantially co-extensive with said supcontacting with the lower sides of said bars porting plane, said letters being applicable to sai ars at different points along the length of the latter, and means for detachably and rigidly securing said letters to said bars. A

2. The combination with a motor-driven aircraft having a supporting plane provided with main longitudinal spars; of a horizontal row of Vhorizontal letters under said plane, horizontal bars under said plane ex 'tending longitudinally thereof and detachably carrying said letters, and rigid connecting means between said bars l'and saidf main spars of the plane. f/

3. A sign adapted for carriage by an aircraft, comprisinga plurality of bars having hangers for supporting them horizontally under a supporting plane of theaircrafla said bars having longitudinal slots, letters contacting with the lower sides of said bars, and attachin bolts for said letters passing through the atter and said slots.

' ln testimony whereof we have hereunto axed our signatures.

A, HARRY W. MTCHELL. l f PETER LA. GRASSA. 

